S.B. No. 52
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the right of state hospital patients to designate an
  essential caregiver for in-person visitation.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 552, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter F to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER F. RIGHT TO ESSENTIAL CAREGIVER VISITS
         Sec. 552.201.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "essential
  caregiver" means a family member, friend, guardian, or other
  individual a patient, patient's guardian, or patient's legally
  authorized representative selects for in-person visits.
         Sec. 552.202.  PATIENT'S RIGHT TO ESSENTIAL CAREGIVER
  VISITS. (a) A patient, the patient's guardian, or the patient's
  legally authorized representative has the right to designate an
  essential caregiver with whom a state hospital may not prohibit
  in-person visitation.
         (b)  If a patient is a minor, the patient's parent, guardian,
  or managing conservator may designate both of the minor patient's
  parents as essential caregivers under Subsection (a).
         Sec. 552.203.  ESSENTIAL CAREGIVER POLICIES, PROCEDURES,
  AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS. (a)  Notwithstanding Section 552.202, the
  executive commissioner by rule shall develop guidelines to assist
  state hospitals in establishing essential caregiver visitation
  policies and procedures. The guidelines must require the hospitals
  to:
               (1)  allow a patient, patient's guardian, or patient's
  legally authorized representative or, for a minor patient, the
  patient's parent, guardian, or managing conservator, to designate
  for in-person visitation an essential caregiver;
               (2)  establish a visitation schedule allowing the
  essential caregiver to visit the patient for at least two hours each
  day;
               (3)  establish procedures to enable physical contact
  between the patient and essential caregiver; and
               (4)  obtain the signature of the essential caregiver
  certifying the caregiver will follow the hospital's safety
  protocols and any other policies, procedures, or rules established
  under this section.
         (b)  A state hospital may not establish safety protocols
  under this section that are more stringent than the safety
  protocols the hospital establishes for hospital staff.
         Sec. 552.204.  REVOCATION OF ESSENTIAL CAREGIVER
  DESIGNATION. (a)  A state hospital may revoke an individual's
  designation as an essential caregiver if the individual violates
  the hospital's policies, procedures, or safety protocols
  established under Section 552.203.
         (b)  If a state hospital revokes an individual's designation
  as an essential caregiver under this section, the patient,
  patient's guardian, or patient's legally authorized representative
  or, for a minor patient, the patient's parent, guardian, or
  managing conservator, has the right to immediately designate
  another individual as the patient's essential caregiver.
         (c)  The commission by rule shall establish an appeals
  process to evaluate the revocation of an individual's designation
  as an essential caregiver under this section.
         Sec. 552.205.  TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF ESSENTIAL CAREGIVER
  VISITS. (a)  A state hospital may petition the commission to
  suspend in-person essential caregiver visits for not more than
  seven days if in-person visitation poses a serious community health
  risk. The commission may deny the hospital's request to suspend
  in-person essential caregiver visitation if the commission
  determines that in-person visitation does not pose a serious
  community health risk.
         (b)  A state hospital may request an extension from the
  commission to suspend in-person essential caregiver visitation for
  more than seven days. The commission may not approve an extension
  for a period that exceeds seven days, and the hospital must
  separately request each extension.
         (c)  A state hospital may not suspend in-person essential
  caregiver visitation in any year for more than 14 consecutive days
  or 45 days total.
         Sec. 552.206.  PROVISION OF NECESSARY PATIENT CARE BY
  ESSENTIAL CAREGIVER.   This subchapter may not be construed as
  requiring an essential caregiver to provide necessary care to a
  patient, and a state hospital may not require an essential
  caregiver to provide the necessary care.
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall prescribe the guidelines and adopt the
  rules required by Subchapter F, Chapter 552, Health and Safety
  Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 52 passed the Senate on
  April 6, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 52 passed the House on
  May 19, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 1,
  two present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor